IB, British and American curricula: the basics side by side

This guide is for parents who are exploring international schools and keep hearing the terms IB, British and American curricula. It gives a broad outline of how they differ and does not say which is better. The content rests on official material as of 29 October 2026 (the Thai material as of 20 April 2026). School and university rules change often, so please confirm the details directly at the end.

First, a caution: the same label can mean different things

"British" is not a single thing. England has a government-set national curriculum, and Cambridge runs separate programmes. This guide treats them separately.

"American" can only be explained here through AP exams, because that is all the source material covers. It does not describe the structure of American schools as a whole, so ask the school directly.

IB: three programmes by age

The IB is divided by age group.

• PYP (ages 3-12): inquiry across subject boundaries. Six transdisciplinary themes frame the learning, and student agency is the central principle. Assessment is mainly ongoing, with feedback, rather than formal tests.
• MYP (ages 11-16): eight subject groups (language acquisition, language and literature, individuals and societies, sciences, mathematics, arts, physical and health education, design), each studied for at least 50 hours per year. It includes a long-term student-chosen project and a community project. eAssessment in the final year is optional; students who take external assessment can earn the MYP Certificate.
• Diploma (DP): students choose subjects from six groups, and the arts subject can be replaced by another science, humanities or language subject. Three or four subjects are taken at Higher Level (HL) and the rest at Standard Level (SL). The IB gives 150 teaching hours for SL and 240 for HL.

British: the national curriculum and Cambridge

The national curriculum in England. According to GOV.UK, it sets out the subjects taught and the standards pupils should reach in each. It is organised into key stages, some of which end with tests, and teachers assess pupils throughout the year. Academies and private schools are not required to follow it, though academies must teach a broad and balanced curriculum including English, maths and science. The page shows no publication date, so check it against current guidance.

Cambridge. The pathway runs as follows.

1. Primary: Stages 1-6, roughly ages 5-11. Late starters can have stages applied flexibly. A diagnostic Checkpoint comes at the end of Stage 6 (typically around age 11), followed by Cambridge Lower Secondary.
2. IGCSE: graded either A*-G or 9-1. Universities have said they treat the two scales equally, although some UK universities take grade 4 and others grade 5 as the equivalent of a C in maths and English.
3. AS and A Level: usually taken at ages 16-19. A Level is a two-year course; AS Level can be completed in one year. A Level is graded A*-E and AS Level A-E. Assessment may be written, oral, coursework or practical, across more than 50 subjects.

American: AP exams

AP courses are college-level courses taken in high school. Exams are scored 1 to 5, with multiple-choice and free-response scores combined and converted. The score is a recommendation on readiness for college credit or placement. Many US colleges give credit or placement for 3 or higher, but each college sets its own policy.

Rules that change by country and university

A Thai example. According to the April 2026 manual of Thailand's Office of the Private Education Commission (OPEC), international schools are private schools licensed by the OPEC Secretary-General. Schools may use foreign curricula as they are, adapt them or develop their own; the manual's appendix gives English, American, IB and Singapore examples. Every international school must teach Thai language, culture and history. The calendar and timetable figures are examples only, so check each school's own.

University application examples. These are single universities in a single year.

• Korea University's 2027 special admissions (Seoul campus) allowed up to five standardised results such as AP, IB and SAT, and excluded predicted scores.
• HKU takes direct applications from holders of IB, A Level, SAT and AP results, with predicted and actual results entered in its system. Meeting the minimum requirements does not guarantee an offer, as interviews, personal statements and references also count. For 2027 entry, the first-round deadline is noon (HKT) on 25 November 2026.

Even the treatment of predicted scores differs. Always read the latest guide of the university you are applying to.

Checklist

• Do you know whether the school's "British" curriculum means England's national curriculum or Cambridge?
• Have you matched your child's age to the right stage (PYP, MYP, DP, or Cambridge stages)?
• Do you understand how the school assesses students (ongoing assessment or external exams)?
• Do you know which IGCSE scale is used, A*-G or 9-1?
• Do you remember that AP credit policy differs by college?
• Have you read the latest admissions guide of any university you are interested in?
• Have you checked the rules for international schools in the country where the school is located, such as local-language and culture classes?

Ask the school

• Which curriculum does the school run in which grades, and does it use it as published or adapt it?
• Is the curriculum officially approved or recognised, and can you see the evidence?
• What exams and grading scale apply in the final years, and where have graduates applied to university?
• Which subjects and hours are required by local law?
• What are this year's academic calendar and timetable?